Caecilia Johanna van Peski (b. 1970) is a Commander in the Royal Netherlands Navy, a licensed psychologist (Psycholoog-NIP), academic, and internationally recognized expert in peace and security, civil-military interaction, democratization, elections, and the rule of law. Her career spans more than three decades and over thirty conflict-affected and transitional countries, where she has worked at the intersection of security, governance, diplomacy, and human rights.

Raised in a family rooted in diplomacy and theology, and partly educated in Switzerland due to her father’s pastoral vocation, Caecilia developed early a strong international outlook, intellectual curiosity, and a lasting commitment to social justice and inclusion. These formative experiences continue to shape her professional ethos: combining strategic rigor with empathy, and policy expertise with respect for local realities.

She holds an MSc in Educational and Cultural Psychology from Tilburg University (with merits), specializing in psychotraumatology and women’s studies, and is licensed as a Psycholoog-NIP. In 2021, she completed a Master of Arts in Civil-Military Interaction at the German Bundeswehr’s Helmut Schmidt University (Military Staff College), followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Border Security and Management for senior leadership at the OSCE Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe. She is currently a PhD candidate in Political Science and Electoral Studies at Maastricht University, researching the politico-military dimensions of European security and EU eastern border regions.

Caecilia van Peski’s professional experience bridges national government, international organizations, and academia. She has served in senior advisory and leadership roles within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence, including as Chief of the DEU-NLD Military Mobility Office under the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, and as Senior Advisor on strategy, governance, and international military cooperation. Internationally, she has held senior positions with UNDP, OSCE, NATO, the EU External Action Service, and DCAF-ISSAT, working on peacebuilding, security sector governance, civil-military coordination, and democratic reform.

Her field experience includes long-term deployments in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Georgia, and the West Bank, as well as extensive engagement across Central and South Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans, the Russian Federation, and the Caspian region. Throughout, she has worked closely with national authorities, armed forces, civil society, and international partners to strengthen institutions, protect civilians, and support inclusive political processes.

Alongside her operational career, Caecilia van Peski is deeply engaged in education and thought leadership. Since 2019, she has been an Academic Fellow and Scholar-in-Residence with the Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies at Juniata College (USA), where she delivers master classes, lectures, and symposia on international peace and security. In 2025, she was appointed as affiliate of Bergen University (Norway), Department of Comparative Politics. She is also a frequent guest lecturer at universities in the Netherlands and abroad, addressing topics such as post-conflict reconstruction, sustainability, SDG 16, and European geopolitics.

Her service has been recognized through numerous distinctions, including appointment as the Netherlands’ United Nations Special Representative on Women and a keynote statement on Women, Peace and Security to the UN General Assembly in 2010. She is a member-select of the UN Senior Women Talent Pipeline and SER TopVrouwen, and has received awards such as the Universal Peace Federation’s “Ambassador for Peace.” She engaged in the ICAN Conglomerate which was laureated the iNobel Peace Prize in 2017.

Caecilia van Peski continues to serve in various governance and advisory roles within civil society and veterans’ organizations, and is a committed advocate for wounded peacekeeping personnel. Her work is guided by a clear purpose: contributing to secure, equitable, and inclusive societies through responsible security and defence, effective civil-military interaction, democratic governance, and justice – fully aligned with the principles of SDG 16 and international peacebuilding.

• (2020 >) Maastricht University, The Netherlands. PhD Candidate in Political Sciences and Electoral Studies. Dissertation: ‘Separation of Distance: Conflict, Borderization and the Role of International Observation in the Commonwealth of Independent States’
• (2023) Diploma United Nations Women in Ceasefire and Security Arrangements Negotiation Course. United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (UNDPPA), Mediation Support Unit, Peace and Security Unit. New York City (NY), USA
• (2020 – 2021) OSCE Border Management Staff College (OSCE BMSC) Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Postgraduate Diploma in Border Security and Management for Senior Leadership Course (PgDip BSMSL-IV). Thesis: ‘Life along the Line of Contact: The Impact of Conflict on the Communities living along Ukraine’s Disputed Border Lines‘.
• (2020 – 2024) Helmut-Schmidt-Universität (HSU/UniBw H)/Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr (FüAkBw) – Military Staff College of the German Federal Armed Forces, Hamburg, Germany. Postgraduate Master of Arts (MA) of Civil-Military Interaction (M-CMI). Thesis Title: ‘75 Years United Nations Peacekeeping Missions: Serving Peace in the next Decade” (With Distinction)
• (2009 – 2009) Pushkin State Russian Language Institute, Moscow, Russian Federation. Intensive Programme Russian Language & Culture Studies
• (2005 – 2006) Radboud University, Centre for International Development Issues (CIDIN), Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Postgraduate Degree International Development
• (2004 – 2005) Utrecht University / National Commission for International Cooperation and Sustainable Development (NCDO), The Netherlands. Postgraduate Degree Global Development Education
• (1997 – 2001) University of Tilburg, The Netherlands. Master of Science (MSc) in Educational and Cultural Psychology (With Merits)
• (1996 – 1997) University of Tilburg, The Netherlands. Examen Propaedeuticum in Social Sciences (With Honors)
• (1989 – 1990) Teachers College Tilburg, The Netherlands. First year completed successfully
• (1983 – 1989) Theresia Lyceum Tilburg, The Netherlands. Atheneum α (Grammar School)

• (2024 – 2025) Office of the United States Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authorities (USSC). Military Gender Advisor. Duty station: West Bank – Ramallah
• (2023 – 2024) Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN). Commander Directorate Integral Management & Governance, Bureau of Strategy, Advice and International Military Cooperation, Senior Staff Officer. Den Helder, The Netherlands
• (2021 – 2023) Netherlands Ministry of Defence, Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN). Commander (OF-4/P4) German-Netherlands Military Mobility Office (DNO). EU External Action (EEAS), EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy (EUGS), EU Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) – Military Mobility Project. The Hague, The Netherlands / Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
• (2020 – 2021) NATO Resolute Support Mission (RSM). Transition Planner / Staff Officer (CJ5 Strategy & Planning) (OF-3/P3) Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan (CSTC-A). Camp HKIA, Kabul, Afghanistan
• (2019 – 2019) DCAF-ISSAT The Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance – International Security Sector Advisory Team. Head Professional Development & Training (P4). Geneva, Switzerland
• (2019 – 2019) The Baker Institute for Peace & Conflict Studies / Oller Centre for Peace and International Programs at Juniata College. “Partnering for Peace” Scholar-in-Residence / Academic Fellow (2019-2022). Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, US
• (2016 – 2018) United Nations Development Programme / UN Volunteers: Chief, Peace Programming Section (P5). Bonn, Germany
• (2014 – 2016) Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (OSCE SMM). Monitoring Officer (P4) Donetsk/Kherson Patrol Hub, Deputy/Acting Patrol Hub Leader (P5) Mariupol Patrol Hub. Ukraine
• (2012 – 2013) UPEACE The Hague/Leiden University The Hague Campus. Lecturer ‘Transforming War Economies’, International Public Management, Safety & Law Programme. The Hague, The Netherlands
• (2011 – 2013) Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. Senior Policy Advisor (P4), Department for Human Rights, Gender, Good Governance and Humanitarian Aid. The Hague, The Netherlands
• (2010 – 2011) European Union Monitoring Mission to Georgia (EUMM). Team Leader Human Rights and Humanitarian Assistance (P4). Tbilisi/Gori, Republic of Georgia
• (2009 – 2010) European External Action Services, Democracy and Election Observation Unit. Project Leader (P4) ‘Reform of the EU Election Observers’ Evaluation System. Brussels, Belgium
• (2009 – 2009) IPCB-S International Police Coordination Board Afghanistan – Secretariat. Political Advisor (PolAd, P4). Kabul, Afghanistan
• (2008 – 2010) BAZN Academy for Public Administration. Lecturer Governance, Democratisation, Civil Administration Tilburg, The Netherlands
• (2004 – 2008) Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Fontys International Projects. International Project Manager. Eindhoven, The Netherlands
• (2003 – 2004) Lysøen Museet – Museum on Norwegian Violinist Player and Music Composer Ole Bornemann Bull (1810 – 1880). Educational Specialist. Bergen, Norway
• (1999 – 2004) Mundial Productions. Developer of Educational Materials ‘Mundial in the Classroom’. Tilburg, The Netherlands
• (1997 – 2003) SOM DOBA (Fydes) Educational Consultancy. Psychologist / Counsellor. Tilburg, The Netherlands
• (1993 – 1998) Institute Broers – Private Educational Institute. Teacher. Tilburg, The Netherlands
• (1991 – 1991) Provinciale Ziekenhuisraad (National Council of Hospitals, Provincial Branch). Project Assistant (P3). Tilburg, The Netherlands

• Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (BSU), Batumi, Georgia. Guest Lecturer Batumi International Summer University. Batumi, Autonomous Republic of Adjara
• NATO Civil Military Centre of Excellence (NATO CIMIC CoE), The Hague, The Netherlands. Guest Lecturer / Subject Matter Expert ASCOPE/PMESII and Cross-Cultural Training
• Netherlands School for Peace Operations (School voor Vredesmissies (SVV), Opleidings- en Trainings Commando (OTCO), Opleidings- en Trainingscentrum Manoeuvre (OTCMAN). General-Major Winkelman Military Barracks, Harskamp, The Netherlands. UNMEoM Course (UN Military Experts on Mission) and UNPOL Training Course
• Fordham University, Rose Hill Campus, The Bronx, NYC, USA, Faculty of Women’s Studies, Gender Studies
• Juniata College, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, USA. Baker Institute for Peace & Conflict Studies (Appointed Peace Fellow in 2020; ‘Partnership for Peace Scholar-in-Residence (2019)
• Bergen University, Norway, Department of Comparative Politics, Courses on Human Rights Monitoring, Election Observation, Democracy Building, Geopolitics
• Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), Seoul, Republic of Korea, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Summer Intensive Programme (2010, 2011, 2012)
• Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands, School for Social and Behavioural Sciences, Department of Social Psychology
• University of London, Birkbeck College, UK, School of Education, Communication & Language Sciences (ECLS)

• Committee of Recommendation Wunderkammer Concerts / Project Parallel Truths (2025)
• Advisory Committee ‘The Georgian fallen Soldiers of Texel Island’ (Europe’s Last WWII Battlefield) (2024)
• Advisory Committee Kerk@cetera (2022)
• Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Netherlands United Nations Association – UNA Netherlands (2019-2025)
• Member of the CISV Alumni Association Advisory Committee (2019-2022)
• Secretary General EuroDéfense The Netherlands (2018-2021)
• Neve Shalom / Wahat al-Salam (Israeli Jew and Arab Peace Initiative) (2018)
• Advisory Committee Stichting Veteranen Brabant Zuid Oost (Veteran Organisation) (2017-2023)
• Board of Advice Stichting Veteranen Hart van Brabant (Veteran Organisation) (2016-2023)
• Executive Committee Remonstrant Brotherhood (Commissie tot de Zaken) (2016-2017)
• Board of Recommendation United Netherlands – Radboud University Nijmegen (2014)
• Board of Recommendation ‘Building Bridges’ (UN ‘He for She Campaign’) (2014)
• Board Member of the International Table (diplomats table) of ‘Nieuwe of Littéraire Sociëteit de Witte’ (2014)
• Board of Recommendation Eindhoven Peace Centre Foundation (2013)
• Advisory Committee Wounded Warriors The Netherlands (Veteran Organization) (2013-2020)
• Advisor to the Board of PortAgora – Centre for European Co-operation (2013-2018)
• Board Member Netherlands Society for International Affairs (NGIZ-Zuid) (2011)
• Committee of Recommendation United Nations Student Association Groningen (SIB) (2011)
• Board Member PAX (Stichting IKV, Interchurch Peace Council) (2009-2018) *) Nobel Peace Prize Laureate as part of ICAN – the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, 06 October 2017
• Board of Recommendation ‘Break down the Wall’ (Israel & Occupied Palestinian Territories Peace Initiative) (2009-2015)
• Board Member Dutch United Nations Association (UNANL/NVVN) (2008-2025)
• Advisory Committee Foundation for Peace Sciences (SVW) (2005-2012)
• Expanded Executive Committee CISV International (2005-2009) *) Awarded European Citizen’s Prize by the European Parliament, 16 October 2013
• Trustee CISV The Netherlands (2002-2005)
• General Board Member CISV The Netherlands (1998-2002)

• Anti-Corruption & Building Integrity in Defence and Security Network (ACBIDS) (2025)
• Association of Former International Civil Servants – The Netherlands (AFICS-NL) (2025)
• Black Sea Women in Nuclear Network (BSWN) (2023)
• The Netherlands Peacekeeping Network (VU Amsterdam) (2020)
• FINABEL – European Interoperability Centre. European Army Innovation Platform (2020)
• Royal Netherlands Association of Naval Officers (KVMO) (2019)
• Royal Netherlands Association of Military Reservist Officers (KVNRO) (2019)
• Dutch Business Round Table Geneva (DBRT) (2019)
• NATO/CCOE Civil-Military Co-operation Community of Interest (2018)
• Vrienden van Cobbenhagen (Tilburg University Exclusive Alumni Association) (2017)
• Convention of Christian Approaches to Defence and Disarmament (CCADD) (2016)
• Common Effort Community (2015)
• Foundation Netherlands Atlantic Commission (AC) (2015)
• International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) (2014)
• ‘Nieuwe of Littéraire Sociëteit De Witte’ – International Table (2014)
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2013)
• EuroDéfense (2013)
• Knowledge Platform Security and Rule of Law (2012)
• European Movement The Netherlands (EBN) (2012)
• D66 – Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE Group / Renew Europe) (2009)
• Member Netherlands Society for International Affairs (NGIZ) (2008)
• Society for International Development (SID) (2007-2019)
• Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR) (2006-2012)
• Amnesty International The Netherlands (2005-2019)
• International Crisis Response Network (ICRN) (2004)
• Vereniging Afgestudeerde Psychologen Tilburg – V.A.P.T. (Tilburg University Psychologists’ Alumni Association) (2001)
• Psychological Association The Netherlands (NIP) (2001)

• Member of the Oxford Diplomatic Society Board of Excellencies (2022)
• Member-select ‘SER TopVrouwen’ (2022) – Social and Economical Council The Netherlands
• Worldconnector, affiliate Earth Charter (2020)
• Member-select of the United Nations Senior Women Talent Pipeline (2020)
• Ambassador Diversity & Inclusion, Royal Netherlands Armed Forces (2019)
• ‘Partnering for Peace’ Fellow Baker Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, Juniata College (2019-2022)
• Nominated ‘Women in the Media Award’ by Media Platform VIDM – Vrouwen in de Media (2017)
• Medal Holder ‘Pro Pace Unum’ European Union United for Peace, External Action Services – CPCC (2011)
• Holder ‘Ambassador for Peace’ Award; Universal Peace Federation (2010)
• Top-100 most influential Dutch Women, ‘Opzij’ ranking (2010)
• United Nations Special Representative on Women; appointment by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of The Netherlands (2010)
• Top-400 most influential Dutch Women; ‘Viva’ ranking (2009)
• Recognition of outstanding contribution to CISV International’s Global Development (2009)
• Holder ‘Talent in International Development’ Award; Dutch Society for International Affairs (2008)
• Holder ‘Pact of Schokland UN Millennium Development Goals Accord ’ (Accord #47: Access to Higher Education) (2007)

• Peski, C.J. van (2025). ‘Wounded Healer’-Symptoms in Professionals Deployed in the Context of International Crisis Response. In: The Emotions and Ethics of Focussing on Mass Atrocities: Perspectives from Researchers, Teachers and Practitioners. 10 January 2025, p. 00-00. Brill Publishers: Leiden (The Netherlands)
• Peski, C.J. van (2025). Waar de vrede woont. Europa tachtig jaar later (Where Peace Resides. Europe Eighty Years Later). In: AdRem Remonstrants Maandblad, Volume 36, No. 6, p. 10-13 (September 2025)
• Peski, C.J. van (2022). Trans-European Effects of the War in Ukraine. In: Juniata Voices (Juniata College), Huntingdon (PA), U.S., p. 91-98
• Peski, C.J. van (2018). Where different Streams with different Sources mingle in One Sea: Maritime Security in The Black Sea Region (European Counter-Balance in the Aftermath of the NATO Summit 2018). Helmut-Schmidt-University, University of the Deutsche Bundeswehr, Interdisciplinary Research Network Maritime Security (iFMS), Hamburg, Germany, 4 September 2018
• Peski, C.J. van (2014). United Nations Peacebuilding; constructing an Architecture of Peace. In: VN Forum, Volume 20, No. 2 (April)
• Peski, C.J. van (2014). One-hundred Years of Peace and Justice at Peace Palace The Hague. In: VN Forum, Volume 20, No. 2 (April)
• Peski, C.J. van (2013). Good Cop, Bad Cop. Georgia’s One Hundred Days of a New Democratic Dream. In: Security and Human Rights (former Helsinki Monitor). Netherlands Helsinki Committee. Volume 23, No. 1, p. 49-100 (July 2013)
• Peski, C.J. van (2012). International Education and Global Citizenship. In: Participation, Facilitation, and Mediation. Children and Young People in Their Social Contexts. Routledge Research in Education. Ed: C. Baraldi & V. Iervese, pp. 219-237. ISBN-13: 978-0415893145 / ISBN-10: 0415893143
• Peski, C.J. (2012). Diplomacy and Life on Georgia’s Boundary Line. In: Security and Human Rights (former Helsinki Monitor). Netherlands Helsinki Committee. Volume 22, No. 11, p. 357-372 (December 2011)
• Peski, C.J. van (2011). International Election Observation and Democratisation. In: International Election Observation and the Assessment of Elections, Chapter 7, p. 115-135. Statistics Netherlands & Maastricht University. ISBN: 978-90-357-1782-4
• Peski, C.J. van, & Schmeets, H. (2011). The ‘C-factor’: impact of the nationality of observers on observing elections. In: International Election Observation and Assessment of Elections, Chapter 9, p. 167-185. Statistics Netherlands & Maastricht University. ISBN: 978-90-357-1782-4
• Peski, C.J. et al (2010). Afghanistan. Naar een begin van vrede in een onbegonnen oorlog. IKV Pax Christi (July 2010). Afghanistan; A beginning for peace in an impossible war
• Peski, C.J. van (2010). VN-Resolutie 1325. Bescherming van Vrouwen in Situaties van Oorlog en Geweld. (UNSCR1325. Protection of Women in Situations of Conflict and Violence). In: AdRem Remonstrants Maandblad, Volume 21, No. 6 (August 2010)
• Peski, C.J. van (2010). Gelijkheidswalhalla. In: Tijdschrift Instituut voor Publiek en Politiek, Volume 2010, No. 5 (May 2010), p.09-10. Equity Walhalla, Journal of the Institute for Public and Politics
• Peski, C.J. van (2009). Van Verzoening naar Vrede. In: VN Forum, Volume 2009, No. 4 (December 2009), p.47-54. From Reconciliation to Peace, United Nations Forum
• Peski, C.J. van (2005). Vernieuwingen in het bekostigingssysteem voor school en schoolbegeleidingsdienst. In: Talent, Tijdschrift over Hoogbegaafdheid, Volume 6, No. 3 (April), p. 19-22. New financing systems in educational consultancy, Journal on Highly Giftedness
• Peski, C.J. van (2005). Willen weten om te adviseren. In: De Psycholoog, Maandblad Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen. Volume 40, No. 2 (February), p. 83-84. Action-oriented models for the diagnosis of learning difficulties, Journal of Dutch Psychological Association
• Peski, C.J. van (2005). Onderwijs in Scandinavië. Egalitaire onderwijssystemen; hetzelfde behandelen of gelijke mogelijkheden bieden? In: Talent, Tijdschrift over Hoogbegaafdheid, Volume 7, No. 2 (March), p. 09-11. Egalitarian educational systems in Scandinavia, Journal on Highly Giftedness
• Peski, C.J. van & Zundert, A. van (2004). Mundial-Novib in de Klas: hoe groot is jouw wereld? In: Jeugd in School en Wereld (JSW), Maandblad voor het basisonderwijs, speciaal onderwijs en opleiding, Volume 88, No. 9 (May), p. 32-35. Global Awareness Education, Journal for Teachers and Educators
• Peski, C.J. van (2004). Gedompeld in cultuur. Diagnostiek bij allochtone leerlingen in het onderwijs. In: De Psycholoog, Volume 39, No. 4 (April), p. 218-220. Diagnostic assessment of immigrant children. Journal of Dutch Psychological Association
• Peski, C.J. van (2002). Meervoudige Intelligentie. Intelligentie als persoonlijke vingerafdruk. In: Talent, Tijdschrift over Hoogbegaafdheid, Volume 4, No. 2 (March), p. 27-28. Multiple Intelligence as a personal competence profile, Journal on Highly Giftedness
• Lansu, T. & Peski, C.J. van (2001). Meervoudige Intelligentie en samenwerkend leren. Onderwijs toegesneden op de veelzijdigheid van leerlingen. In: Jeugd in School en Wereld (JSW), maandblad voor het basisonderwijs, speciaal onderwijs en opleiding, Volume 85, No. 9 (February), p. 16-19. Multiple Intelligence & Cooperative Learning, Journal for Teachers and Educators